Monday, June 5, 2017

Book Review: “Left of the Dial” by Christina Bruni

Book Review: “Left of the Dial” by
Christina Bruni

By William Jiang, MLS

Fashion, Romance, Music, Ambition and More

Christina Bruni’s memoir Left of the Dial (Createspace, 2015) is
a tour de force. Christina is a storyteller, first and foremost. Schizophrenia
is the backdrop to her hopeful story, which is full of fashion, romance, music,
ambition and more. Since the first chapter was fortissimo engaging, I could not put her book down, and so ate it whole
the very first day. Needless to say, I was aching for more.

In this powerful memoir, Christina reveals
she studied English Literature during college (tops in her classes, I’m sure).
Bruni’s writing flows with passionate energy while maintaining a subdued mellow
feel. If still waters run deep, she tells it best.

Throughout her book, Miss Bruni’s life
philosophy, “normal is boring” (and I strongly agree), is loud and clear. Like
the Chinese axiom, “May you live in interesting times,” translating as “May you
live an interesting life,” are exemplified by her experiences and biographical
anecdotes. People who live with serious and persistent mental illnesses seem to
live, by default, more colorfully than those who float by on a cloud of
normalcy. Perhaps, Christina’s story would also do well on the silver
screen.

Like Bruni, the lot of us who battle
mental illness have larger-than-life personal stories. Indeed, our life
chronicles take us from heaven to hell and back again. When I read a story like
Christina’s, I am reminded that in some way I am blessed to be able to share my
own story of schizophrenia with others. As a Buddhist monk once said to a woman
who was a victim of rape, “You are so fortunate to have survived your ordeal.
Just by living, you will be able to give other women who have survived rape and
sexual abuse much needed hope.” If more people had the courage, vision,
optimism and storytelling ability of Christina, it would suit me just fine.

I disagreed strongly with one thing Ms.
Bruni said in her book toward the end. It was something to the effect of “this
is my only story.” My hunch is that we are in for another treat in the future.
I feel that her book publishing career has just begun. “Bravo, Christina e
gratzie!” My sincere hope is to someday talk to Ms. Bruni on the phone and
maybe meet up for a coffee one author to another. Buy the book and experience
the ride. The way you think about schizophrenia and your life may never be the
same after you read Left of the Dial.

Life is best lived left of the dial.

Editor’s
Note: William Jiang, MLS, is the author of A Schizophrenic Will: A Story of
Madness, A Story of Hope and Guide to Natural Mental Health, and eighteen other
books on Amazon.com.